PhD seminar: Mouhamed Zerbo

The impact of the Log Export Ban reform on deforestation: evidence from Gabon

Discussants : Pascale Motel Combes et Mahamady Ouedraogo

Abstract

he Log Export Ban (LEB) reform aims to ban unprocessed wood export. In 2010, Gabonadopted this reform in order to promote its wood industry while not taking account potentialeffects on deforestation. From panel data at second-order administrative division (ADM2) levelfrom 2001 to 2018, this study investigates the impact of the LEB reform on deforestation inGabon. The estimation strategy relies on a difference in difference (DiD) method in which theADM2 in Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo are used as control group. The parallel trendtest shows that there is no significant difference in deforestation level between Gabon and thecontrol group before 2010. In addition, our results reveal that while deforestation increases in allthree countries after 2010, compared to its neighbors, Gabon benefited from avoided deforestationestimated at nearly 2,100 km2from 2010 to 2018.

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